Readers sound off on bike lanes, taxes and Mariah Carey

Brooklyn: Re Bramhall's World (Dec. 1): The rise of cycling in New York City will continue to make our streets safer. Of the 269 traffic deaths in 2010, only 18 related to bicycle crashes.

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A DOT report from August 2010 states that the addition of 200 miles of new bike lanes improved pedestrian safety. Controlling for other factors, crashes involving pedestrians on streets with bike lanes were 40% less deadly than on other streets. The study goes on to note that bike lanes have a "traffic calming effect, lowering speeds and increasing driver attention."

So I ask: Why does Bramhall continue to demonize cyclists, even in the context of accident prevention and awareness programs such as Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan's new safety signs?

Bramhall's perspective is stuffy and outdated. Let him long for New York City before the DOT addressed these safety issues if he likes. I'll continue to grow in the 21st century with the rest of the 99%. Weston Ulfig

Tax the rich

Bayside: I strongly disagree with your editorial "Don't go wobbly, gov" (Dec. 1). Extending the millionaire's tax would not be raising taxes, but letting it expire would be a huge tax cut for those who don't need it. Harriet J. Brown

On the naughty list

Bronx: The tree-lighting at Rockefeller Center should be a nice, family-oriented event. But just before the finale, we were subjected to a video of forty-something Mariah Carey posing suggestively during a duet with teenager Justin Bieber. Carey should have been hugging a pole instead of the wall. Barbara Boyle

Disrupter-in-chief

Manhasset, L.I.: President Obama was going to "focus like a laser" on getting the economy going. So what does he do? Go to New York City for fund-raisers, causing traffic congestion and adding to the chaos of the tree-lighting ceremony. Way to go, Obama. Alice Ficalora

Hidden agenda

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Flushing: Campaigner-in-chief President Obama says he needs another term to finish the job — totally destroying the United States' economy. Wallace Byrd Charles

Loan sharks

Brooklyn: The Federal Reserve lends to banks at .5%. Student loans are fixed at 6.8. Students are being pepper-sprayed and thrown in jail to protest the debt that goes with four years of a college education. Seems like a bargain with the devil to me. Justine Swartz

North Syracuse, N.Y.: I have closely followed the GOP debates, and I would never vote for any of those right-wing extremists. If one of them becomes President, I hope the Democrats in Congress take their turn as the party of no. Linda Wyatt

Lack of leadership

Yonkers: Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino has become the biggest crybaby ("HUD's warped war on Westchester," Op-Ed, Nov. 30). Everything is somebody else's fault — HUD, the public-sector unions, President Obama. Get real. We need leaders who can work with HUD officials, not blow up a deal by going on Sean Hannity to smear them. Laura Willis

Economics 101

Farmingdale, L.I.: I understand Voicer Linda Imhauser's concern about spending $4 billion on the Mars probe. But the money did, in fact, create jobs and rebuild infrastructure. The engineers who designed the probe, the companies that built it, the technicians who launched it, the restaurants that fed those people, etc., all benefited. They also paid taxes that financed infrastructure. Michael Ward

A host of lords

Bronx: What kind of God is Voicer Deirdre Harvey worshiping? I guess the God of good fortune, not the God who sent His son to Earth to live with us as a simple, hardworking carpenter. What's so savvy about winning the lottery? Ismael Vazquez

The kindness of strangers

Brooklyn: After our 2-year-old had surgery, my wife and I brought her home on the A train during rush hour. I would like to apologize to — and thank — the riders who helped us during the 30-minute tantrum that followed. When the train stopped in the tunnel, and the only sound was her blood-curdling cry, the passengers smiled and told us it was "only natural." New Yorkers are the best. Frank Schloegel

One more hassle

Bronx: How sneaky of the mayor to change all the parking meters to muni-meters. He has inconvenienced the elderly, the handicapped and everyone else. You have to walk to the ticket machine, walk back to your car, open the door in traffic and place your ticket on the dashboard. It's all about more revenue for the city. Guido Susi

Coiffure crisis

Brooklyn: What's up with Secretary of State Clinton's hair these days? She should get a makeover — and quickly. Those long, unstyled locks make her look like an old lady. Anthony A. Vento

Can't get there from here

Forest Hills: Who is the DOT genius who decided to reduce one lane of Woodhaven Blvd. right by the LIE exits? You're responsible for massive backups on the expressway both ways. Isn't DOT supposed to make traffic flow more easily and safely? Jeff Ossip

Good housekeeping

Bronx: Re "Where 'rehab' never ends" (Nov. 27): There's no denying that many city residents live in substandard housing. However, it's unfair to say the city's revitalization programs fall short. If the city invests millions to renovate or repair a building, people should do their best to maintain it. If a few ruin it for everyone else, they should be held accountable. People need to reclaims their communities. The city can do a lot, but it can't, and shouldn't, do everything. Elizabeth Rodriguez-Perez

History lesson

Manhattan: Voicer Pamela C. Katkowski parrots Rush Limbaugh's bogus claim that the pilgrims were saved from starvation because they abandoned socialism for private enterprise. In actuality, they were saved by Native Americans, who practiced a communal way of living and gave the pilgrims food to to see them through the first winter. I guess Limbaugh would argue that those Native Americans were venture capitalists. Angela Reiss

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Piling on

Brooklyn: It seems to me sportswriter Gary Myers shines only when he gets to talk smack about my beloved Giants ("Tom time to make, break," Dec. 1). Tom Coughlin is the head coach, and heavy is the head that wears the crown. But he can't be faulted for the entire team's collapse. Kevin Murray

Go, Seawolves!

Tappan, N.Y.: On Nov. 26, Stony Brook University's football team beat the University at Albany to advance in the NCAA FCS National Championship. Unfortunately, there was no mention of this accomplishment in the world's best sports section. Come on, Daily News, show a local school some love. Matt Giuliano